Dorothy Hodgkin Postgraduate Awards - Report 2007 Prabhat Sakya
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Dorothy Hodgkin
Postgraduate Awards
Report 2007
Prabhat Sakya
1
Contents
Introduction 3
How the scheme works 4
Facts and figures 5
Above all else quality 10
A successful and indispensable scheme 12
Case studies 17
Thoughts for the future 27
2
Introduction
Globalisation has rapidly become the key trend of the early part of the twenty
first century. The developing world, notably countries such as Brazil, Russia,
India and China, is taking an ever increasing slice of global economic activity.
As their economic activity grows, research success will become an
increasingly important factor in their development.
Thus developing countries are increasing their investment in research and
training. There is a correspondingly growing pool of highly educated
graduates in the developing world. It is in the UK’s interest to attract the
brightest and the best of these people to study in the UK. By doing so, an
important contribution could be made in three key areas:
• to provide the UK’s best universities, and consequently the UK science
base, with access to a pool of first-rate students with a variety of outlooks
• to improve the profile of the UK as an outward-looking, technologically-
advanced country
• to help to equip developing countries with a pool of highly skilled people
who can make a significant difference to the pace of development of those
countries
For these reasons, in November 2003 the Prime Minister launched the
Dorothy Hodgkin Postgraduate Award (DHPA) Scheme. The scheme would
bring outstanding students from India, China, Hong Kong, South Africa, Brazil,
Russia and the developing world to come and study for PhDs in top rated UK
research facilities. For the first time, both the fees and living expenses of
selected PhD students from the developing world would be paid. This has
opened doors to students from the developing world which otherwise would
have remained firmly shut. For the brightest students, no longer would the
cost of studying for a PhD in the UK be prohibitively expensive.
Students are attracted to undertake research in other countries by a
combination of factors including: the quality of the research facilities; financial
support available; and the academic quality of particular research institutions.
UK universities – and in particular the UK’s 5 and 5* departments – possess
the first and last attributes in abundance. By providing financial support we
are making the UK one of the most attractive places for developing world
students to study.
The DHPA scheme is now in its third year of operation. As the first cohort of
DHPA students near the end of their PhDs it seemed appropriate to review
the scheme and gauge how successful it has been so far. Thus a survey was
conducted involving all the stakeholders of the scheme: the students, the
supervisors, the DHPA contacts at the universities, the sponsoring companies
and the sponsoring research councils. This report both introduces the scheme
and summarises the findings of this survey, as well as providing case studies
of the experiences of some typical DHPA students.
3
How the scheme works
Each award is sponsored 50:50 by a public sector (research council) sponsor
and a private sector sponsor, and is labelled to show this sponsorship pairing
(for example, an EPSRC/BP DHPA). As a result of this double-badging
mechanism, each sponsor is associated with approximately double the
number of awards that it has provided funding for.
As an example, in the 2006 cohort BBSRC is sponsoring 6 awards, at a cost
of 6 x £90K (£540K). As each BBSRC award is also sponsored by a private
sector organisation, this means that 12 DHPA scholars are being sponsored
using the BBSRC’s £540K.
For each scholarship, it is a requirement of the scheme that the area of study
undertaken is within the remit of the associated Research Council. However,
the area of study does not need to relate to the work of the sponsoring
company.
One of the major criteria of the scheme is excellence. Thus it is a requirement
of the scheme that DHPA scholars are placed in departments RAE-rated 5 or
5*. Furthermore, the quality of the students awarded DHPAs must also be
high – they should demonstrably be in the top 20% of all PhDs studying in the
UK, and should have been awarded the equivalent of first class degrees at
their home universities.
The EPSRC administers the scheme, on behalf of the Office of Science and
Innovation, and acts as a conduit for funds from all core sponsors. The overall
allocation of core scholarships to each university has been informed by the
number of A and A* staff, in 5 and 5* departments, submitted to the 2001
Research Assessment Exercise. This has been adopted as a measure of
research training capability which holds some validity across the range of
disciplines included in the scheme.
If there is more funding available from the research councils than from the
companies, then universities are asked to find company co-sponsors to match
up with the excess research council funding. These awards can either be
‘unpaired core awards’ or ‘additional awards’. In the case of unpaired core
awards the awards are allocated to universities based on the algorithm
described above, whereas for additional awards the awards are allocated on a
‘first come, first served’ basis.
In terms of monitoring requirements, universities are expected to forward
personal, project, supervisory and sponsor details to EPSRC using the same
web-based data capture system that is used for DTA students (Je-S, the Joint
electronic Submission system), normally within one month of a scholar’s
project start date. In addition, universities are asked to fill in Scholar
Information Sheets after each scholar has accepted a DHPA; this document is
forwarded to the sponsors and the scheme manager.
4
Facts and Figures
The breakdown of nationalities of students who have been participating in the
scheme in the first two cohorts (starting October 2004 and October 2005) is
given in table 1. This data is based on student data entered on Je-S.
number of
country students
Argentina 3
Bahrain 1
Bangladesh 1
Brazil 2
Chile 4
China ex. Hong Kong 133
Columbia 3
Croatia 1
Egypt 1
Ethiopia 1
Ghana 1
Hong Kong 11
India 42
Iran 3
Kazakhstan 1
Lebanon 1
Macedonia 1
Malaysia 3
Mexico 4
Nepal 1
Nigeria 1
Pakistan 2
Peru 2
Philippines 1
Russia 15
South Africa 2
Sri Lanka 4
Tanzania 1
Thailand 3
Turkey 3
Venuzuela 1
Vietnam 1
Zambia 1
Total 255
Table 1 – Distribution of nationalities for DHPA students
Of the 255 students whose data was entered, 133 were from China (excluding
Hong Kong) – just over half the total. 42, some 16%, were from India. 6%
were from Russia and 4% from Hong Kong. These nationalities made up the
bulk of the students. The remainder of the students came from a wide range
of countries scattered all over the world. There were representatives from 1
North American country, 6 South American countries, 7 African countries, 2
5European countries and 17 Asian countries. Amongst the nationalities that are
represented are South Africa, Macedonia, Ethiopia and Vietnam.
It is perhaps not surprising that China and India have the biggest
representations. The number of Chinese students is skewed higher than it
would normally be as one of the largest sponsors for the first two years was
Hutchison Whampoa, which stipulated that all the students it sponsored
should be from China or Hong Kong.
The breakdown of students by sex is given in figure 1.
female
36%
male
64%
Figure 1 – Breakdown of students by sex
This shows that 64% of the DHPA population is male and 36% female – this is
reasonable considering the high numbers of engineering students.
Table 2 summarises the sponsors for the first three years of the scheme.
The DHPA scheme has received funding from almost all the Research
Councils and a wide range of the UK’s leading companies. On average, the
total funding amounts to around £10 million a year, allowing us to fund over
100 students per year. The value of the award has increased from £75,000 in
the 2004 and 2005 cohorts to £90,000 in the 2006 cohort.
6Table 2: Sponsor Contributions to the DHPA Scheme
Number of DHPAs sponsored
Sponsor Organisation 2004 2005 2006 Value of Contribution (£k)
BBSRC 5 7 6 1440
EPSRC 20 30 30.5 6495
ESRC 10 12 5 2100
MRC 6 6 5 1350
NERC 20 19 0 2925
PPARC 5 5 5 1200
Total RC Contribution 66 79 51.5 15510
BP 25 25 25 6187.5
E.ON 0 0 1 90
GlaxoSmithKline 4 2 3 757.5
Hutchison Whampoa 26 26 0 4087.5
Rolls Royce 0 0 2 180
Scottish Power 3 3 0 525
Shell 0 0 7 630
Vodafone 5 2 2 742.5
Additional Awards companies 0 14 11.5 2085
Total Industry Contribution 63 72 51.5 15285
OSI 0 7 0 525
Total Combined Contribution 129 158 103 30795
In order for us to get the best developing world students, the scheme needs to
be well publicised. Just how did DHPA students first hear about the scheme?
The answer is given in figure 2.
Other
17%
PhD supervisor
41%
internet fellow student
30% 4%
graduate undergraduate
university university
5% 3%
Figure 2 – How did you first hear about the DHPA scheme?
Students learnt about the scheme through many different sources. It is
interesting to note that 41% of students learnt about the scheme from their
7PhD supervisors. This compares with just 4% who heard about the scheme
from their fellow students. It appears that the DHPA scheme is better known
within the academic community than the student community. I would ascribe
this, at least partly, to academics’ greater knowledge of funding routes in
general.
In this internet age it is not surprising that 30% of students heard about the
scheme from the internet. The graduate (5%) and undergraduate (3%)
universities were also valuable sources of information. Amongst the other
information sources were the British Education Council, the scholarship
manager at the British Council in India, a newspaper in India when Tony Blair
announced the scheme, and a PhD vacancy advertised in jobs.ac.uk.
So what was the university’s strategy for recruitment of students to DHPA
awards? Selection of DHPA students is delegated to the universities, and
there is some variation in the recruitment strategies used.
Awards were advertised in New Scientist and also online at FindaPhD and at
the Newcastle University website.
It was fair… departments were asked to submit proposals and these
considered by a central panel.
The selection was through the head of the post-graduate committee for the
College, following a visit to Anna’s University. Anna was recommended by her
Principal.
Our approach has been to allocate the awards to specific academic
departments prior to them being advertised to potential applicants. We then
let the departments make the decision about which student is offered the
award.
Students were also asked about their future plans. Figures 3 and 4 show their
responses.
Other
9%
undecided
21%
post-doc or
fellowship
54%
industry
16%
Figure 3 – What do you plan to do after your PhD?
8Other UK
9% 13%
home country
16%
undecided
62%
Figure 4 – Where do you plan to live after your PhD?
Not surprisingly for such an academically gifted group of people, the majority,
54%, planned to undertake a post-doc or a fellowship after their PhD. Another
16% planned to start careers in industry. A substantial proportion (21%) were
undecided, while 9% had other careers in mind. Amongst these other careers
was working as a researcher in a think tank and working for an international
organisation such as the WTO.
In terms of where students planned to live after their PhDs, 16% would go
back to their home country and 13% would stay in the UK. 9% aimed to live in
other countries, with destinations such as the USA, Germany and South
Africa listed. However, interestingly, the majority, 62%, were still undecided. If
anything, this illustrates the uncertain nature of research, with students being
unsure, until perhaps a few months before they move, where their next role
will be. But of those who had made a decision, a substantial number intend to
return to their home country, allowing them to contribute to its scientific
development. Many others would stay in the UK, contributing to research in
this country.
9Above all else quality
The vision of the Dorothy Hodgkin Postgraduate Award scheme set out at its
launch was of a scheme focussed on quality. The aim would be to find high
quality students from China, Hong Kong, India, South Africa, Brazil, Russia
and the developing world to come to study in the UK. They would be placed in
some of the best university departments in the country where they would
receive a high standard of training and undertake good quality research.
So, three years after the scheme’s launch, has the vision been realised? Or
has the scheme become just another route for funding foreign PhD students,
with little regard for their overall quality?
Well PhD supervisors and DHPA contacts at the universities were asked ‘How
would you rate the quality of your DHPA students compared to other students
recruited to undertake PhD study?’ Their response is summarised in figure 5.
poor moderate
don't know 0% 14%
2%
very high
47% high
37%
Figure 5 – How would you rate the quality of your DHPA students
compared to other students recruited to undertake PhD study?
The findings show 84% of respondents felt the quality of the students was
either ‘high’ or ‘very high’, and indeed nearly half thought the quality ‘very
high’, with just 14% saying ‘moderate’ and none saying ‘poor’. This is clear
confirmation that we really are picking the ‘best of the best’ students from the
developing world.
So if we are picking the best students from the developing world, how well are
we training them? Well the students were asked how they would rate the
quality of research training they had received. The responses are given in
figure 6.
10poor moderate
very high 1% 15%
31%
high
53%
Figure 6 – How would you rate the quality of the research training you
have received?
84% of the respondents rated their research training as ‘high’ or ‘very high’
quality, whereas just 15% rated it moderate and 1% poor. The students are
being placed at some of the most prestigious institutions in the UK and, with
few exceptions, the quality of the training they are receiving is of a
correspondingly high quality.
11A successful and indispensable scheme
So the survey has shown that the DHPA scheme is bringing some of the
brightest and best from the developing world to study at top quality institutions
in the UK. But would these students have studied for PhDs in the UK anyway?
Is DHPA funding really that necessary?
Well, to answer these questions, DHPA students were asked whether they
would still have pursued PhDs in the UK if they had to pay for the fees and
stipend themselves. Their response is given in figure 7.
don't know yes
9% 5%
no
86%
Figure 7 – If you had not received DHPA funding and, instead, had to
pay for fees and stipend yourself, would you still have undertaken a PhD
in the UK?
An overwhelming majority of respondents, some 86%, said they would not
have been able to undertake a PhD in the UK without DHPA funding. 9%
were unsure and only 5% say that they would have been able to bear the
burden of paying for both fees and stipend.
other developed
USA
world
1%
1%
UK
3%
developing
world
95%
Figure 8 – Where did you undertake your undergraduate degree?
12Almost all the students, 95%, undertook their first degree in the developing
world. Just 3% did their first degree in the UK, and another 2% did their first
degree elsewhere in the developed world.
Clearly DHPAs are providing UK universities with talent they would otherwise
never have access to. This point is made repeatedly by the supervisors and
university contacts:
DHPA has been very good for us. In a world where research funding is getting
harder and harder to obtain and many great students are lost to a lack of
funding, DHPA has provided a welcome new opportunity to support good new
students.
Funding for overseas research students is limited. The DHPA scheme is
therefore extremely valuable in providing a dedicated funding stream that
offers support for both tuition fees, living expenses and project support costs.
Judging by the level of enquiries alone the scheme has been a success in
raising the profile of UK universities to overseas applicants.
It has been very successful in attracting very good students. I have one
working for me and I have helped recruit another, who is of a very high
standard. We would not have been able to attract these students without fully
funded awards.
It has provided an excellent means of funding to bring students from countries
where funding streams for PhD students have not been straightforward in the
past. The prestige of the scheme has also enabled recruitment of outstanding
students. This is benefiting the research quality that can be done (my students
are working fruitfully on problems that I thought would be insoluble).
The scheme has enabled us to recruit a top class experimental physics
student to the University, who has integrated very well into the Department
and research group. The student has proved a stimulating young colleague,
enhancing the international dimensions of the student body and providing
stimulating interactions with other students in the Department. The student is
engaged in some first rate research, and is already generating publications
from his research in his first and second years.
But the scheme has been viewed as a success not only by the universities but
also by the students. Students were asked how successful they felt the DHPA
scheme has been so far, and whether it had met their expectations. The
response was overwhelmingly positive. Some typical comments are given
below.
The DHPA scheme is really the best scheme. One gets the opportunity of
conducting one’s research at a top rated department of the University. The
scheme has fulfilled my dream of interacting with a very high quality of
students and faculty members at the University.
13I have every reason to say that the DHPA scheme is very successful. It
makes it possible for top quality students from developing countries to receive
an excellent education in the UK. Due to the strictness in the selection
process, the scheme has earned a very high reputation.
I think the DHPA scheme is successful in the sense that it gives the
opportunity to people from developing countries to study in the top universities
of the UK. Hopefully these people would return to their home countries to
apply the knowledge gained while here, contributing to their countries’
development.
It is a very successful scheme!
In my opinion, the scheme meets the expectations of a research student to a
high level. Personally I am completely satisfied with the scheme.
The DHPA scheme has completely met my expectations so far. Firstly
because it would have been impossible for me to undertake higher studies
outside India at all and in UK in particular. Secondly, the Institutes that the
DHPA scheme is associated with all have great quality research facilities.
Yes, entirely. The award gave me the advantage of the research council
awards normally enjoyed by UK/EU citizens. This has been a great privilege.
Students were also asked “What benefits has the scheme brought to you?” A
cross section of their responses is given below.
An opportunity to get a PhD of the highest standard in Europe.
Confidence, freedom and financial support to carry out my favourite research
work in one of the top universities in my research area.
I can concentrate on my research work.
I have been regularly doing experiments at Vulcan Laser Facility at Rutherford
Laboratory at Chilton, which houses the maximum focused intensity laser in
the world. Also as part of a UK team I have been involved in experiments at
the LULI laser facility at France, which is one of the best in Europe.
I have met many DHPA scholars working in my area of research and the
collaboration among some of us has proved very productive.
Opportunity to study in the UK and all the benefits that that provides e.g.
access to a large number of highly qualified researchers, good facilities,
opportunity to make lasting contacts in countries other than my own.
The DHPA scheme has allowed me to undertake research in my chosen field
which I would have been unable to do without the financial backing. The
quality of training I have been given has exceeded my expectations and has
enabled me to achieve a high standard of research.
14The opportunity to pursue my PhD in a top university and in a country with a
long history and an excellent cultural atmosphere. The opportunity to learn
different cultures and traditions. The opportunity to meet other students with
similar backgrounds and to share both academic and living experiences with
them. The opportunity to improve personal skills such as communication,
presentation, reading and writing, time and resource management, etc.
Amazing experience of living and studying in an overseas country.
The scheme had allowed me to enrol in a well known academic institution.
The research training and supervision, along with financing available for
research equipment, conference and travel costs have all been benefits and
advantages.
The unique possibility of doing my PhD research in one of the best research
centres in my area. Also, living in the UK has been a fantastic experience
from many points of view.
Finally, the question was asked, “would you recommend the scheme to your
peers?”. The response is given in figure 10.
don't know
1%
no
2%
yes
97%
Figure 9 – Would you recommend the scheme to your peers?
The response was overwhelmingly in favour of the scheme – 97% of DHPA
students would recommend the scheme to their peers. Some of the reasons
given were:
Because at the moment I think it’s the best scheme for overseas students who
want to study in the UK and need funding.
Because it is one of the most distinguished scholarships in the UK.
I have benefited from the scheme myself and I believe it is a remarkable
scheme which can help other students as well. I’m proud of being a DHPA
student.
15So, overall, both the universities and the students have given their
unequivocal backing to the scheme. The scheme is successfully achieving
what it set out to do, bringing some of the brightest developing world students,
students who would otherwise not have been able to afford to study in the UK,
to study in the best research institutions in the UK. It now has an
indispensable role in UK research funding.
16Case studies
1. Marco Hernandez (ESRC/Vodafone; Jesus College, Oxford
University)
The most important thing for me is to be able to look back at my life and know
that all that I have done has made me a better person, someone that I like. My
recent investigations into economic and social policies in Peru have reinforced
my desire to pursue a career in international development. I have had the
opportunity to gauge my interest level by working in international
organizations such as the World Bank and the Peruvian Ministry of
Economics. The experience of meeting and working with government officials
and senior officers of international organizations has helped me understand
the magnitude of the problems confronting Peru, the perspective taken by the
government, as well as the practical realities of attempting to achieve
solutions through government policy.
Undertaking a PhD in Politics at Oxford has strengthened my global political
perspectives and has allowed me to contribute to the literature on
development. My thesis title is “The State, Capital and Economic Statecraft:
The Political Economy of Business-State Relations”. As the title suggests, I
am doing a comparative political economy study analyzing the effects of
business-state relations on the economic policymaking process in two Latin
American countries: Peru and Chile. Despite its importance to policy
outcomes, the link between business and politics has been highly neglected in
the comparative politics literature, and my work attempts to contribute to this
17gap. I present an innovative formal model that explains the bargaining
process between business and the state with regards to economic policies,
and the incentives for firms to coordinate their activities and form business
associations.
Since arriving at Oxford University, I have also participated in extra-curricular
activities in a number of different areas. I have been a member of the Varsity
Tennis Team at Oxford University for two years. I have represented the
‘Blues’ tennis team in the British University Student Association (BUSA)
competitions. As a team we won our BUSA league with an undefeated record,
and won the Varsity match in 2005. In addition, I represented Oxford on the
Varsity match against Cambridge University in June 2006. I am also a
member of the Oxford University United Nations Association (OUUNA). My
participation in the OUUNA includes debating and trying to reach a
compromise for some of the world’s most pressing problems. Furthermore, I
am part of an Investment Club in which I am the president and founder.
Finally, I have participated in different artistic activities this term including
music. I currently form part of a rock band with other Oxford students and
have given concerts in the University.
All of this would have not been possible without the help from the Dorothy
Hodgkin Scholarship. I first learnt about the DHPA from the Department of
Politics when I received my acceptance to the PhD program. Without this
financial aid I would not have been able to study in the United Kingdom and
18much less in a prestigious institution like Oxford University. It has been a
privilege and an honour to be a part of Oxford’s community.
2. Yu Teng (EPSRC/BP; University College London)
I was born and raised in Harbin, a major city in north eastern China. It’s a
place full of culture and history and is known in the world for its beautiful
annual ice and snow sculpture shows. I lived and studied in Harbin until
coming to London for my Ph.D.
Coming to the UK was an important turning point in my life. UCL opened the
door for me to pursue further my research in Engineering. The training
provided by both the UCL graduate school and the department of Electronic
and Electrical Engineering equipped me with essential skills not only for
research work but also for my future development. My supervisors and
colleagues in the radar group are very nice and patient. They helped me to
overcome the initial difficulties of settling into my new life and research work in
London. Although my supervisor has a very busy schedule, he still tries to
offer me the most help he can give, from the initial reading stage to the
preparation of my presentations for all the progress meetings with sponsors,
and major conferences. In addition, he supports my attendance at all kinds of
meetings and major international conferences. Amongst the conferences I
attended was one held in Shanghai in October 2006. I was very proud to
come back to my home country to present our research. I met people in the
radar field from all around the world.
Outside of school, I actively participated in a variety of extra curricular
activities. The vibrant life in London has expanded my horizons. Since coming
to London in September 2004, I exposed myself to the full range of
opportunities this new world offered. I have made a lot of new friends from
different cultures and backgrounds, and developed some new interests.
I like the beautifully designed parks in London, such as Regent’s Park, Hyde
Park, and Green Park. On weekends, I usually go running or walking there in
the morning. When running through the parks, I can hardly remember I’m in a
city. Additionally, London is a city full of culture and history. I often visit
museums and go to cinemas and theatres. My knowledge of this country as
well as the western world has been enriched through these activities.
Sometimes, I meet my friends in a little coffee shop, where we chat to each
other and share our experiences. For some special occasions, such as New
Year’s Eve, I like to invite my friends to my flat to have dinner together.
During long vacations, I spend most of my time travelling. I’ve explored
different regions and cultures of the UK. I enjoyed climbing mountains in the
Highlands accompanied by Scottish bagpipes, hiking along white cliffs in
Brighton, punting in the Cam, watching the delicate porcelains in Windsor
Castle and sitting on a tramcar in Manchester.
Coming to the final stage of my studies in London, I have started thinking
about my career options after my Ph.D. Although I haven’t decided what
19exactly I’m going to do then, working in a consulting company seems like a
good way to utilize both my professional knowledge and other transferable
skills. I’d like to work in the UK for a couple of years, gaining more work
experience, acquiring more practical skills, and improving my language skills
further, before I eventually go back to Asia.
When I look back, it was a combination of many factors that led me to London
to have all these great experiences. Amongst these, the DHPA was critical. I
benefited from it not only financially, but also spiritually. Under this scheme, I
got to know many friends, who are young, creative and academically
excellent, coming to this country with their dreams. We have a lot in common
and a lot to share with each other. I still remember that when I first looked up
the website, DHPA is described as ‘best of the best’. This DHPA spirit
encourages me to overcome all the difficulties and move forward.
3. Kathy Lui (MRC/Hutchison Whampoa; Lincoln College, Oxford
University)
“The world does not demand that you be a lawyer, minister, doctor, farmer,
scientist, or merchant; it does not dictate what you shall do, but it does require
that you be a master in whatever you undertake.” (Orison Swett Marden)
The statement above is my philosophy of life. I pursue ceaseless creation and
expression of my true self.
20I grew up in a poor yet happy family in Hong Kong. My parents were born in
China during the period of Cultural Revolution. They had not received proper
education. When they moved to Hong Kong, life became very hard for them to
raise a family of five children as they were unskilled and, as a result,
underpaid. What we encountered from our ‘underprivileged’ childhood taught
us an excellent life experience – that we have to be well-equipped in order to
survive in this rapidly changing world.
I was awarded 43 prizes in secondary school, ranging from academic
discipline and exemplary conduct to artistic works. I am passionate about life
and particularly enjoy studying Life Science. I did my bachelors and masters
in Biochemistry at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. During my
undergraduate studies, I also earned some credits for a summer course at the
University of California, Los Angeles.
21I learnt about embryonic stem (ES) cell research at the Sir William Dunn
School of Pathology from reading the scientific literature. I joined the group
under Prof. Herman Waldmann and Dr Paul Fairchild, and now work on
strategies to induce transplantation tolerance to ES cell-derived tissues. So
far, I have greatly enjoyed the project. I have also attended several meetings
during the first year of my Ph.D., including a summer school in Edinburgh and
a conference in Paris, which have greatly broadened my scientific horizons.
I love living in England, a place with many historical buildings. I like to visit
museums and go hiking with friends. When I have longer holidays, I would like
to travel around Europe. I admit that it takes me quite a while to adapt to the
cultural differences, but the thing that I am still not so comfortable with is the
weather, as it can pour down with rain at any moment.
I am very fortunate to receive the Dorothy Hodgkin Postgraduate Award. I am
so proud of Dorothy Hodgkin, a Nobel Laureate in Chemistry, and am happy
to receive a scholarship which is named after her. The DHPA is an excellent
scholarship which covers the full cost of tuition fees and maintenance. Without
this funding, I probably would not have been able to come to Oxford as the
overseas fees for non-EU students are so high. Besides, there is a big
gathering each year in December where all the DHPA students can meet
each other, as well as networking with the sponsoring companies. I have
made some friends there.
Looking to the future, I would like to be fully trained in the stem cell field and
hope to provide pioneering skills and knowledge for the further development
of stem cell research in HK. After my PhD, I would like to post-doc in the UK,
and then look for a professorship in HK. Through applying science I am
determined to devote my life to benefiting mankind.
Paul Fairchild (Kathy’s supervisor): In the shadows of greatness
Two hundred yards from our laboratory in Oxford hangs a plaque marking the
spot where Dorothy Hodgkin performed her seminal work on the crystal
structure of insulin and penicillin. The plaque is far from ostentatious, being
set several feet above head height where it rarely attracts attention,
something of which Dorothy Hodgkin herself might well have approved, as
one of science’s more self-effacing veterans. And yet despite the lack of
pomp and ceremony, Dorothy Hodgkin’s name lives on in Oxford and
continues to inspire new generations of scientists who come here to study and
apply their intellect to a breathtaking diversity of scientific problems.
It was, therefore, with a sense of anticipation that I first met Kathy Lui, who
joined our laboratory over a year ago to study for her doctorate with support
from the Dorothy Hodgkin Postgraduate Award Scheme. From the start I
have been struck by Kathy’s sharp intellect and fierce determination to
succeed which were always tempered by her quiet and retiring humility. And
she has undoubtedly lived up to expectation, displaying all the background
insight and technical skills that form the bedrock of success in science. These
22qualities, coupled with the support of the DHPA, will undoubtedly set Kathy on
the path to a promising career in science. The role played by the DHPA in
this process cannot be underestimated: the support and mentoring Kathy has
received, together with financial backing for living expenses, consumables
and travel, have given her every opportunity to make the most of her doctoral
research. I can only hope that many more will benefit from this scheme and
that some may, like Dorothy Hodgkin, make the journey to Oxford to study in
the shadows of greatness.
4. Deepa Senapathi (NERC/BP, Reading University)
Experiences broaden perspectives and makes life more enriching! Student life
is full of new experiences and these are even more exciting when living in a
foreign land and experiencing a new culture. My name is Deepa Senapathi
and I am a research student in the University of Reading, UK. I was born in
Chennai, India.
I think it was John Lennon who once said, “Life is what happens to you
when you are busy making other plans”. This is definitely true to a certain
extent in my life. I was always fascinated by nature and the world we live in,
so it was a simple choice to pursue a biology related degree when I left
school. When the time came to specialise within my chosen field I decided to
explore animal behaviour especially the genetic aspects related to the same
and I came to the United Kingdom in order to do that. My first experiences of
life outside India, was as a visiting researcher working on a Molecular Ecology
project in the University of Cambridge. At that time I thought I would pursue
this field for a doctoral thesis. However, life took a series of unexpected turns
which included doing a Master’s degree in Ecology and Conservation in the
University of East Anglia, Norwich which in turn enabled me to meet my
current PhD supervisor in Reading. As I had enjoyed working on applied
ecology and conservation related projects I decided to continue my research
in this field.
It was at this particular moment in time that I heard of the Dorothy Hodgkin
Postgraduate Award Scheme through my supervisor and the project that was
on offer through this scheme at Reading was something that I found both
exciting and challenging. I was successful in my application for the research
studentship and at present I am in the second year of my PhD working on the
changing climatic patterns in Mauritius and its possible effects on an endemic
bird species know as the Mauritius kestrel. As part of this work I travelled to
Mauritius in 2006 in order to collect data required for my analyses. The two
weeks I spent there enabled me not just to visit another beautiful country but
also to interact with several people in all strata of society and thereby
enhanced my experiences of yet another culture different from my own.
The research has been challenging to say the least. My time has been spent
learning various aspects related to Meteorology, Ecology as well as Statistical
modelling. More than the academic side however, is the personality
development associated with being a researcher. I have learnt to be more
23patient when results aren’t forthcoming, better at managing my own time and
working towards self-set deadlines.
Apart from my research and academic pursuits I enjoy a variety of extra
curricular activities. I have had formal training in Ballet, a little bit of Tango and
Flamenco and at present I am trying to get to grips with Belly Dancing. More
than all of these I enjoy choreographing dance routines and while in India
successfully choreographed on a competitive basis several dances that were
a fusion of Western and Indian classical dance styles. I enjoy sporting
activities too; I play quite a bit of badminton and volley ball both on a
competitive and leisure basis and being Indian I am an extremely avid cricket
enthusiast as well. The other things that I enjoy doing involve singing with the
University Chorus, amateur nature photography which ties in nicely with my
field of research and travelling and meeting people from various places.
The Dorothy Hodgkin Postgraduate Award has enabled me to pursue doctoral
research in my chosen field and life in a foreign land has had a profound
effect on my perspective on life. Not only have I developed a better
understanding and appreciation of a different culture but I have also found
myself recognising and valuing aspects from my own country that I had until
now taken for granted.
At this moment in time I am enjoying my life as research student. As for future
plans I enjoy the working environment in the United Kingdom but I also want
to contribute towards conservation projects in India. My ultimate dream would
be to work on projects In India with leading ecologists from Universities in the
UK, thereby facilitating knowledge transfer and cultural interaction between
the countries involved. I am a person who believes in living life to the fullest
24and in pursuing my dreams as far as I can. Being a DHPA scholar has
definitely made quite a lot of this possible. I am truly grateful for the
opportunity to do what I enjoy most in my life and also for letting me share my
thoughts and experiences with others.
5. The company view – Malcolm Skingle, GSK.
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) is one of the world’s leading research-based
pharmaceutical and healthcare companies. GSK’s continued investment in
the UK will depend on the quality of its graduates and postgraduates and on
the maintenance of the quality of the basic research carried out in the many
universities and research institutes with which we collaborate.
For the UK science base to remain competitive in the global marketplace,
more needs to be done to increase both its quality and diversity. Companies
do have a role to play in this, and in this context GSK has been participating in
the DHPA scheme since it was first launched in 2004, supporting first-rate
students from the developing world to study in the UK’s best universities. To
date, GSK has sponsored students from a range of nations including China,
India, Russia, Nepal, Croatia, Albania and Mauritius.
In addition to financial support, GSK offers its DHPA scholars the opportunity
to spend part of their PhD studies at one of our research sites. This provides
students with access to state-of-the-art facilities, techniques and
instrumentation that may not be available at the home institution. The
students also gain an understanding of the issues and drivers affecting a
global research-based pharmaceutical company and they have the
opportunity to interact with scientists worldwide.
The 2004 cohort of scholars are due to complete their studies in the coming
year, when the full value of the scheme for students, universities and
sponsors will begin to be determined. The potential benefit to GSK is two-fold;
the scheme enables the company to foster links with key academic institutions
where the scholars are placed; and it gives us access to a pool of highly-
skilled DHPA graduates for potential recruitment opportunities.
Overall, GSK feels that the DHPA students are a valuable addition to the UK’s
intellectual capacity, and we hope that this initiative will receive support from
additional sponsors to ensure this scheme continues to grow.
6. The view from the Research Councils – Iain Cameron (RCUK)
The Research Councils have recognised the need for a scheme to bring
developing world students to the UK to undertake PhDs. There is global
competition for student talent, and without schemes such as the DHPAs the
UK risks being bypassed by the best international students, who instead may
go to countries such as the USA or Germany. This scheme enables us to
attract some of the brightest research talent from overseas. DHPAs now fill a
valuable niche in the UK research training landscape, giving bright developing
world students the chance to study in some of the best universities and
25research departments in the UK. Without this funding these students would
simply not be able to afford to study in the UK.
What is more, the fact that each award is funded 50:50 by a Research Council
and a company means that the scheme is good value for money for the
Research Councils: we effectively get 2 students for the price of 1! Also there
is an increasing emphasis being placed on transferring the knowledge gained
during research to industry. By tying each award to a company, we are
increasing the likelihood that such a transfer will take place, and also
furthering the links between the company and the academic institution, and
providing recruitment opportunities for the company.
There are also benefits that accrue directly to the Research Councils. The UK
science base gets access to high quality students with a diversity of outlooks.
Excellent research will be done in areas within our remit. If the students stay
on in the UK they will strengthen research in the UK, and if they return to their
home countries they will both aid the development of research in their
homeland and strengthen links with universities in the UK. All in all, we view
DHPAs as a valuable scheme and would encourage potential sponsors to
support the initiative.
26Thoughts for the future
So there has been fulsome praise for the scheme. But now, with the DHPA
scheme into its third year of operation, how do we take the scheme forward?
The question was asked “Are there any improvements you would suggest for
the scheme? What would these be?”
As can be imagined, there was a large and wide-ranging response to this
question. We are publishing a summary of the main themes that came
through.
Quite a few people were happy with the scheme as it is.
I think this runs well and I would leave it as it is.
Not really, I’m satisfied with what I’ve got from the DHPA scheme.
No. It’s perfect so far.
Some respondents asked for continuity.
Continue the scheme.
Continuity (offering the same number of studentships in each subject in each
year)
One of the more common requests was, quite simply, for more awards.
An increase in the number of awards.
Seriously, more money to fund more excellent PhD students.
Could it be possible to have more positions for this fund?
There were requests for more flexibility in the awards.
Remove geographical restrictions associated with commercial sponsors.
The scheme should be less proscriptive in terms of subject areas and
nationalities.
In response to this we would say that we need to strike a balance between
providing as much flexibility as possible in terms of subject areas and
nationalities, and satisfying our sponsoring companies’ wishes. Particularly if
a company would like to specify where their awards are placed so that they
are of as much relevance as possible to the areas of interest to them, we try
to accommodate these requests.
There were a number of suggestions about what can and what cannot be
funded from a DHPA grant. There were requests for funding for research
27costs, for travel, for conferences, for books and for laptops. The general
position we have on this is that the award should at least pay for fees and
stipend. If there is any money remaining then this can be used to support the
student and his/her research as the university sees fit – so this could indeed
include research costs, travel, conferences, books or laptops.
There were also points raised concerning the length of the award. The view of
RCUK and OSI is that the maximum length of the award should be four years.
However, the university should inform the student of the length of the award
from the outset, and this will largely be dependent on the amount of money
available per student. In the first two cohorts of the award the total value of
each award was £75,000, which is approximately enough to fund three years.
However for the 2006 cohort the value of the award was increased to
£90,000, which is approximately enough to fund three and a half years. With
this increase we expect that it will be easier to fund students for the full length
of their PhD.
Related to this point, students based in London asked that the value of their
stipend be increased to include London weighting. Currently we stipulate that
each student be paid at least the minimum UK stipend, though the university
is free to pay more if they wish. We do not require universities to add London
weighting, as this could only be done if all our awards to London-based
institutions were of higher value than other awards. This would over-
complicate and reduce the flexibility of our allocation system.
Another point which was raised was the timing of the scheme, with
stakeholders asking if the sending of letters of intent to participating
universities be made earlier, so that the applications could be made for
DHPAs at the same time as they are made for ORSAS. RCUK and OSI will
look at our processes to see if we can indeed make the announcement of
award allocations earlier in the academic year.
Some respondents suggested that a welcome letter be sent to award
recipients on the start of their PhD.
An introductory / welcome letter should be sent to recipients about the award
and it should stipulate in detail everything available to the recipient including
expectations of the funding body.
Other suggestions that were made included an induction event, and a
personal development plan.
Proposed induction event to bring students, academics and sponsors together
would be a good initiative.
One of my friends is doing a PhD and is sponsored by the Ford Foundation,
USA. Apart from the regular funding they also have personal development
programs like the one they recently had in the USA called the International
Ford Fellow leadership programme, which my friend was selected for. These
28programmes help students to improve upon their personal skills and would be
an added benefit to DHPA students as well.
So what about interactions amongst DHPA students and between DHPA
students and sponsors? The current degree of interaction with company
sponsors is generally low. Students were asked about the degree of
interaction they had had with their company sponsors. The results are shown
in figure 11.
a moderate
amount a great deal
3%
a small amount 8%
15%
none
74%
Figure 10 – How much interaction have you had with your industrial
sponsor?
The picture we get is that there is, in most cases, little or no interaction. Only
3% of the students said that they had a great deal of interaction with their
company sponsors. Where there was interaction this tended to take the form
of a report and presentation, or a meeting with company representatives. It
appears that most companies are happy with a minimal level of interaction,
whereas a few companies tend to interact much more. However, we would
add that the scheme is constantly evolving, and the recent trend is for
companies to interact more with their students. With this in mind, one
respondent suggested that more thought be given to having appropriate
research council / company pairings.
Interactions amongst DHPA students and (to a lesser extent) between
students and sponsors, was a theme that came through from several
responses.
As the scheme supports quite a number of scholars in similar fields, I suggest
we could have some kind of meeting / conference / scientific gathering for
idea exchange or networking.
I would be interested in meeting other DHPA scholars, at least from the same
country, to share experiences and to network. It could be an online forum,
directory, or a group on a social networking site such as linkedin or orkut.
29It would be great if there is more opportunity to network with the industrial and
council sponsors.
Yes, I would suggest to create (if it doesn’t exist yet) a feedback network with
the students or a bulletin in order to keep us informed about any news related
to the scheme or recent activities/events in which we might participate.
Clearly there is a need to enhance networking amongst students both past
and present and between students and sponsors. We will look into ways of
addressing this need, perhaps by developing a networking website and
organising regular networking meetings.
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